Consider This: Planning vs. Starting

02 Feb Consider This: Planning vs. Starting

Is it great to have a plan? Of course. When we have big dreams and lots to accomplish, it’s important to create a plan that is going to help us achieve everything we want. However, we have to be aware of how quickly planning turns into procrastination, self-doubt, or fear. Planning is comfortable. We trick ourselves into believing we are being productive. We’re addicted to whiteboarding our ideas, creating to-do lists, and meeting with friends and colleagues to brainstorm.

If you’re anything like me, you have pages of notes, half full journals, and you should see my Google docs and Evernote. Yikes! Ideas for days.

So, what can we do to get out of the planning process and finally get to work? Start. Yep, that’s it. Once we put a plan in place, it’s time to execute. Start chipping away at the plan. Starting is the absolute best way for us to gain momentum, especially when we don’t feel like doing the work. Once we get started, our plan starts coming to life. We get to experience what’s working, what’s not, and how best to move forward.

Another great thing about starting is that new opportunities end up popping up when least expected. We’ll meet someone we’re supposed to meet, read something that is meant for us at exactly the right moment. Don’t you just love it when that happens?

I bet you have a plan. One that you created that is just screaming to play out. Why haven’t you gotten started? Even if it’s not a fully completed plan, get started. Go for it.